Identification tag



Feb. 25, 1969 c. DAvl IDENTIFICATION TAG Filed June 13. 1966 INVENTOR, cos/vo 0A vl, BY 'M Lw M f ATT YS,

United States Patent O 3,429,064 IDEN'HFICATION TAG Cosmo Davi, 102 Shawomet Ave., Somerset, Mass. 02726 Filed June 13, 1966, Ser. No. 557,012 U.S. Cl. 40-20 7 Claims Int. Cl. G09f 3/08, 3/02 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE IAn identification tag for use with fabric-type materials `and including a card on which identifying indicia is adapted to be imprinted, and a connecting member joined to said card and being formed yof 4a plastic -material in a one-piece construction, the connecting member having a cross bar located -at an end thereof that is insertable Ithrough the materials `for securing said card thereto.

The present invention relates to `an identification tag. More particularly, .the present invent-ion relates to an identification tag that is adapted to be attached to a fabric material and for this purpose includes a plast-ic connecting member that is fixed to :a card and that is formed with an outer bar that is insertable through the fabric material `for mounting the tag thereon.

It has been the custom .heretofore to tag fabrics and garments with tags that included a card to which a string was secured. The string was secured in various ways to the card, such as insertion through an opening therein or 'by affixing to the card by means `of an yadhesive strip. Since the assembly ofthe string to the tag required a special hand operation, and since, in fuse, it was necessary to either thre-ad the string through the `fabric material for looping or st-apling the string to the fabric material, the identification tags known heretofore ywere found to be objectionable as used.

The present invention incorporates a molded plastic connecting member that is fixed to a card .and thus forms l `a permanent part thereof. In use of the tag embodied herein, the plastic connecting member is provided with a cross bar on the free end thereof that is adapted to be inserted through the fabric and thus conveniently mounts the tag on the fabric with ya minimum of effort. The securement of the connecting member to the tag or card is accomplished yby automatic means and includes the afiixing of an adhesive strip over the inner end of the connecting member as it overlays the card.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to t rovide an identification tag tor use with fabric-type materials that includes a connec-ting member that is formed in a relatively rigid, one-piece construction land that includes an elongated stem, the inner end of which is aixed to a card Iand `the cuter end of which includes a Cross bar that is insertab'le -through a fabric material for mounting the tag thereon.

Another object of t-he invention is t-o provide an identie-ation tag that includes a connecting member formed in a one-piece construction of a rigid material and including an elongated stem having a relatively small crosssectional dimension that permits flexing movement thereof, the inner end ofthe stem being fixed t-o a card adjacent to -an edge thereof and the outer end of the stem being free `and having a cross bar formed thereon that is substantially perpendicular to the stem, wherein the Cross bar is -insertable throu-gh -a fabric material for mounting the tag thereon.

Still Ianother object is to provide an identification tag having a molded plastic connecting member that is delined `by an elongated stem and an outer cross bar, at least one end of which is pointed for facilitating penetration FICC thereof through a fabric material for mounting :the tag thereo-n.

Still :another object is to provide an identification tag that includes a relatively rigid one-piece connecting member, the inner end of which is lfixed to `a card by a flexible strip of material that Ioverlies the inner end of the c-onnecting member.

Another object of the invention is to provide an identification tag that includes a connecting member formed of -a plastic material and that is provided rwith an enlarged inner portion that is fused to a card, at least =a portion of the card having a plastic material joined thereto for receiving the enlarged connecting member porti-0n is -fused relation.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

'ln :the `drawings which illustrate the lbest mode presently contemplated for carrying out the .present invent-ion:

FIG. 1 is an eleva-tional view of one form of the identification tag embodied herein showing the mounting of .the connecting member on a card by means of an overlay strip;

lFIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along lines 2F2 in FIG. l;

iFIG. 3 .is an enlarged perspective yiew of a modified form of connecting member that is formed with a plate on the inner end thereof;

IFIG. 4 is a View similar to FIG. 1 yand showing a moditied form for `fixing the connecting member illustrated in FIG. 3 to the outer end of the card;

lFIG. 5 vis =a sectional view taken along lines 5 5 in FIG. 4;

IFIG. 6 is an elevational view of the outer end of a modified form of identification tag; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along lines 7-7 in FIG. 6.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, one form of the identification tag embodied in the present invention is illustrated and is generally indicated at 10. The identification tag 10 in the form of the invention shown in FIGS. l and 2 includes a card 12 on which identifying indicia is imprinted, stamped or otherwise placed in any suitable manner. The card 12 is further fabricated of any suitable material, such as paper or cardboard, and is of such length as to permit the proper identifying indicia to be placed thereon.

The card 12 with the identifying indicia 12 appearing thereon is adapted to be mounted on a fabric material or the like, such as clothing, and for this purpose includes a connecting member generally indicated at 14. The connecting member 14 is preferably molded of a plastic material in a one-piece construction, the plastic material being normally rigid. For this purpose, any suitable plastic material may be employed, one example of which is polyethylene. The connecting member 14 as molded is formed with an elongated stem 16, the innermost end of which is somewhat enlarged, as indicated at 18, and the outermost or free end of which is formed with an integral cross bar 20. The cross bar 20 may be formed with a point such as indicated at 22, the pointed end 22 providing for easy insertion or penetration through the fabric material. Although only one pointed end 22 is shown, it is understood that the opposite end thereof may also be formed in a point. It will be observed that the cross sectional dimension of the elongated stem 16 is relatively small, thereby permitting fiexing movement thereof. Thus, the connecting member 14 may be handled such that the cross bar 2li is tilted with respect to the stem 16 to better provide for penetration of the cross bar 20 through the fiexible material on which the tag is mounted.

As shown in FIGS. l and 2, the inner end 18 of the stem 16 is located in overlying relation with respect to an end of the card 12, and the connecting member 14 is permanently fixed to the card 12 by placing a strip indicated at 24 over the enlarged portion 18 in overlying relation with respect thereto. Any suitable adhesive may be applied to the inner surface of the strip 24 to permanently affix the strip 24 to the card 12.

It is seen that with the strip 24 located in overlying relation on the inner portion 18 of the stem 16, the connecting member 14 is permanently mounted on the card 12, thereby enabling the card 12 to be fixed in place on a fabric material by insertion of the bar 2i? through the fabric material. The bar 20 thus locks behind the fabric material to locate the card 12 in depending relation with respect thereto.

Referring to FIG. 3, a modified form of the connecting member 14 is illustrated wherein a plate-like portion u 28 is joined to the end 18. In use of the modified form of the connecting member as illustrated in FIG. 3, the plate portion 28 is placed against the card 12 and the strip 24 located thereover in overlying relation. Since the plate portion 28 lies fiat against the card 12, it further acts to lock the connecting member 14 to the card 12, and because of the large surface area of the plate portion 28 that is located in contact with the card 12, the connecting member 14 is prevented from moving with respect thereto.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a modified form of the identification tag is illustrated wherein the connecting member 14 as illustrated in FIG. 3 is secured behind a ap 30 that is cut out from the card 12. The stem 16 of the connecting member 14 extends through the opening defined by the flap 30, the enlarged plate portion 28 being located beneath the fiap 30 and held in position thereby. The overlay strip 24 with the adhesive applied thereto extends over the associated end of the card 12 and in overlying relation with respect to the enlarged portion 18 of the connecting member. Thus, the liap 30 cooperates with the plate 28 and the strip 24 to permanently secure the connecting member 14 to the card 12.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, another form of the invention is illustrated in which the connecting member 14 with the plate portion 28 attached thereto as shown in FIG. 3 is employed. In the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a plastic-like strip member 32 is fixed to the card at an end thereof, and the plate portion 28 is then fused to the plastic strip 32 by applying heat thereto. The heated plate portion 28 fuses directly to the plastic strip 32 to form a permanent connection for fixedly mounting the connecting member 14 on the card 12.

In use of the device as illustrated in the various figures of the drawing, the connecting member 14 is adapted to interconnect the card 12 to a fabric material such as normally associated with clothing. In this connection, the cross bar 20 is tilted with respect to the stem 16, and the pointed end 22 is then inserted through the flexible material until the cross bar 20 clears the rear surface thereof. The cross bar 20 is then snapped behind the flexible material to lock the connecting member 14 thereon, thereby mounting the card 12 in place. As previously mentioned, any suitable advertising or identifying indicia may be imprinted or placed on the face of the card 12 in the conventional manner. It is seen that since the connecting member 14 is permanently secured to the card 12, the attachment of the identification tag to the flexible material may be accomplished without the requirement of any special tooling or skills.

While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an identification tag for use with fabric-type materials, a card on which identifying indicia is adapted to be imprinted, a connecting member secured to said card and being insertable in said material for mounting said card thereon, said connecting member being formed of a plastic material in a one-piece `construction and including an elongated stem, one end of which is relatively enlarged, the other end of said stem having a cross bar joined thereto that is substantially perpendicular to said steam and that is insertable through said material for securing said card thereto, the cross sectional dimension of said cross bar being relatively greater than said stem and said cross bar being substantially rigid for permitting insertion thereof through said material, said enlarged portion having sufficient surface area to provide for securement thereof to said card, and means cooperating with said enlarged portion for fixing it to said card.

2. In an identification tag as set forth in claim 1, a exible strip of material overlying the end of said connecting member that is fixed to said card and being adhered to said card to firmly retain said connecting member in fixed position on said card.

3. In an identification tag as set forth in claim 2, a fiap being cut out of said card and overlying said enlarged portion, the elongated stem of said connecting member projecting through the opening in the card defined by the tiap cut out therefrom.

4. In an identification tag as set forth in claim 3, a fiexible strip of material overlying the portion of said connecting member that is fixed to said card and being adhered to the side of the card that is opposite to the ap.

S. In an identification tag as set forth in claim 2, at least one end of said cross bar being pointed to facilitate penetration of said cross bar into the fabric material on which the tag is to be mounted.

6. In an identification tag as set forth in claim 1, at least one end of said cross bar being pointed to facil itate penetration of said cross bar into the fabric material on which the tag is to be mounted.

7. In an identification tag as set forth in claim 1, a strip of plastic material adhered to the end of the card on which the connecting member is fixed, and at least the inner end of said connecting member being formed of a plastic material and being fused to the plastic strip to firmly secure the connecting member to the card.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 529,873 11/ 1894 McDermut 40-20 1,922,799 8/1933 Gaus 24-l43.4 X 2,825,162 3/1958 Flood c 40-20 FOREIGN PATENTS 621,438 6/1961 Italy.

EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Exam ner.

WENCESLAO J. CONTRERAS, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 

